Photo source: Twitter
Susan Calman talks to actress Elaine C Smith about Zombie Rule #9.
Duration: 09:32
Source: BBC Radio Scotland
News and updates on the work of Scottish actors around the world.
Showing posts with label Elaine C Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elaine C Smith. Show all posts
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Elaine C Smith: radio interview
Elaine C. Smith: Celebrity Interview
Susan Calman talks to actress Elaine C Smith about Zombie Rule #9.
Duration: 09:32
Source: BBC Radio Scotland
Susan Calman talks to actress Elaine C Smith about Zombie Rule #9.
Duration: 09:32
Source: BBC Radio Scotland
Monday, 15 April 2013
Elaine C Smith: fundraising evening for St Andrew's Hospice
Elaine C Smith performing for St Andrew's Hospice at Airdrie's Sir John Wilson town hall
She said: “I am so pleased to be performing not only in Lanarkshire but also to help raise money for St Andrew’s Hospice – a well-loved local charity which has to raise £57,000 every week in life.
“The hospice is very close to my heart and I can’t wait to see everyone turning out to have a great night and support an amazing cause.”
Read more at Wishaw Press
Comedian Elaine C Smith is doing a show to raise funds for Lanarkshire’s St Andrew’s Hospice.
An Audience with Elaine C Smith will be at Airdrie Town Hall on Thursday, April 18.She said: “I am so pleased to be performing not only in Lanarkshire but also to help raise money for St Andrew’s Hospice – a well-loved local charity which has to raise £57,000 every week in life.
“The hospice is very close to my heart and I can’t wait to see everyone turning out to have a great night and support an amazing cause.”
Read more at Wishaw Press
Sunday, 7 April 2013
Elaine C Smith: An Evening at Celtic Park
Enjoy an Evening With Elaine C Smith at Celtic Park
From Celtic News Now:
On Thursday, April 25 we welcome good friend of the club, and patron of our Celtic Women's and Girls' Programme Elaine C. Smith to Celtic Park, for a night of fine dining and excellent entertainment. 'An Evening with Elaine C'.Read more at Celtic News Now
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Elaine C Smith: new series of 'Rab C Nesbitt'
From Elaine's official site:
"Elaine C Smith returns as Mary Doll the long suffering wife of the Govan philosopher, Rab C Nesbitt, for a new BBC2 series. Rab is one of Britain’s best loved comedy creations and he’s still got a full compliment of demons to wrestle with and plenty to get off his string vested chest."Source (including image): Elaine C Smith
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Elaine C Smith: official website
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Elaine C Smith: Snow White opens; first review
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs opens in Aberdeen
More than 1,000 people turned out for the opening night of Aberdeen’s Christmas panto.
And
the festive favourite – Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs – will leave
you with a huge smile, happily chatting about the best bits of a show
that is one of the best things you’ll see all year.
The show, starring Elaine C Smith, Alan McHugh and Jordan Young is on at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, throughout December.
Source: Aberdeen Evening Express
Review
Qdos Entertainment’s creative team of director Alex Norton,
choreographer Karen Martin and writer Alan McHugh once again take on
north-east Scotland’s biggest panto at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen.
In their ninth year, dame Alan McHugh and sidekick Jordan Young have
become a panto institution in the Granite City and their local knowledge
is evident in their creatively crafted lyrics and trademark wordplay.
Panto stalwart Elaine C Smith returns as the Wicked Queen in her
fourth consecutive Aberdeen panto. Her initial entrance is lacklustre,
but she soon gets into her stride, despite the mirror failing to live up
to its magic billing.
Adding the necessary fairytale magic, Frances Mayli McCann as Snow White sings beautifully and looks every bit the part, working well with Matt Wilman as Prince Peter.
The first act ends on a high as the Doric Dragon voiced by Scottish entertainment legend Robbie Shepherd flies out from the stage across the audience. But this dramatic entrance fails to live up to expectation, as the dragon makes only a brief and rather spurious appearance in the second act.
This panto team has been working together for a number of years and the genre is their core strength, enabling them to gloss over opening-night glitches. Combined with local knowledge and observation, you get a truly wicked panto perfectly tailored for the local audience.
Source: The Stage
Adding the necessary fairytale magic, Frances Mayli McCann as Snow White sings beautifully and looks every bit the part, working well with Matt Wilman as Prince Peter.
The first act ends on a high as the Doric Dragon voiced by Scottish entertainment legend Robbie Shepherd flies out from the stage across the audience. But this dramatic entrance fails to live up to expectation, as the dragon makes only a brief and rather spurious appearance in the second act.
This panto team has been working together for a number of years and the genre is their core strength, enabling them to gloss over opening-night glitches. Combined with local knowledge and observation, you get a truly wicked panto perfectly tailored for the local audience.
Source: The Stage
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Greg McHugh / Clare Grogan / Elaine C Smith
Breast cancer awareness campaign breaks government’s online records
A shock new health advert featuring women's breasts has outperformed a major campaign to promote the Scottish Homecoming, new figures have shown.
The Homecoming advert - part of a multi-million campaign - had previously been the most successful ever to be commissioned by the Scottish Government with almost 112,000 views.
But the Detect Cancer Early drive starring actress and comedian Elaine C Smith has smashed previous records to become a chart topper on YouTube.
A total of 125,048 people have viewed the video to date which carries the message that lumps are not the only sign of cancer.
The campaign is predominantly aimed at women over the age of 55, as this is the group most at risk of developing breast cancer.
Video statistics from YouTube show that men aged 45–54 years have been the most likely group to watch the advert online so far, followed by men aged 35–44 and then women aged 45–54 years.
Brian Coane, accounts partner from The Leith Agency, who made the advert, said: "The campaign was developed to get the attention of a female audience. And the first thing that we want the campaign to do is to help women spot the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
“But cancer is something that affects many people, male and female. So we hope that the message of 'Don't get scared, get checked' is one that people want to pass on, especially through word of mouth."
Official government figures show that there were 1,024 cases of breast cancer in women in Greater Glasgow and Clyde in 2010 and five cases in men.
Launched earlier this year, the Detect Cancer Early campaign aims to increase the early detection of cancer by a quarter by 2015 and save 300 lives across Scotland.
Speaking about the creative process behind the advert Phil Evans, copywriter from The Leith Agency, said: “We always felt that showing real breasts, with real symptoms, would make for a powerful advert.
“And that's when we hit on the idea of cards being held up over the chest. We thought that if we could get a high-profile woman to go topless and hold them up so that it looked like they were her breasts, this would instantly grab the viewer's attention.
“Full-frontal naked breasts had never been seen in an advert before, but we thought if ever there was a time when this could be appropriate, it was now - for this campaign.
“There was something about Elaine that we thought women in Scotland would relate to. And when we found out she'd lost her own mum to breast cancer, it was never going to be anyone else.
“When I thought about what she should say while holding the cards, I felt it was important to reflect her personality and warm people to the information by making a joke at the start of the advert.
“That's where the ‘Three kids later ones’ line came in. It shows this is about real women with real breasts. This honesty set the tone for the whole advert. It is a straightforward, honest appeal to the women of Scotland.
“I'm absolutely over-the-moon with the reaction. As Elaine put it when she had a wee teary moment during filming, ‘If it prevents one death from breast cancer it was all worth it’.”
The average survival rate for cancer has doubled in the past 30 years, and half of all people diagnosed with the disease now survive for at least five years.
Between 1986 and 2010, the survival rate of those being diagnosed with cancer across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has increased by 17%.
Responding to the success of the campaign, Health Secretary Alex Neil says that the “upfront and honest” advert has made a bold step in tackling breast cancer survival rates head-on.
He said: “One in nine women in Scotland will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, highlighting the gravity of this disease and the importance of staging a public health campaign that directly addresses the awareness of symptoms.
“We needed to give women across Scotland the confidence to deal with breast cancer and to recognise the potential visual signs and symptoms of the disease.
“The creative route is a UK first by showing real pictures of women’s bare breasts with visible signs of breast cancer in a television advert.
“It has drawn widespread, positive responses across the nation that have helped to galvanise conversation around the topic of breast awareness.
“The Scottish Government is proud to have introduced this groundbreaking campaign which we believe will help pave the way to improve the health of generations of Scottish women to come.”
Following in the footsteps of Elaine C Smith, a group of celebrities have since joined together to make an online spin-off video and help reinforce the Detect Cancer Early campaign messages.
Featuring Kaye Adams, Tom Kitchin, Clare Grogan, Michelle McManus, Amanda Hamilton, Grant Stott, Phil Kay and Greg McHugh, the celebs are hopeful that the light-hearted approach, which has had over 10,000 views so far, will strike a chord with the public.
Kaye Adams said: “I think the tone of the advert is just right. The important thing in any media campaign is to make a connection and a lasting impression. A stern 'in one ear and out the other' message is no good to anyone.
“Scots respond to humour, they enjoy humour and remember it and if it can help them take on board an important message, then it is doing its job.
“I thought the original advert was inspiring from the off. It caught my attention immediately and drove me online to look at it again. Elaine is the perfect choice, she is known for her humour but also her intelligence and integrity.”
Source (with both videos): STV
A shock new health advert featuring women's breasts has outperformed a major campaign to promote the Scottish Homecoming, new figures have shown.
The Homecoming advert - part of a multi-million campaign - had previously been the most successful ever to be commissioned by the Scottish Government with almost 112,000 views.
But the Detect Cancer Early drive starring actress and comedian Elaine C Smith has smashed previous records to become a chart topper on YouTube.
A total of 125,048 people have viewed the video to date which carries the message that lumps are not the only sign of cancer.
The campaign is predominantly aimed at women over the age of 55, as this is the group most at risk of developing breast cancer.
Video statistics from YouTube show that men aged 45–54 years have been the most likely group to watch the advert online so far, followed by men aged 35–44 and then women aged 45–54 years.
Brian Coane, accounts partner from The Leith Agency, who made the advert, said: "The campaign was developed to get the attention of a female audience. And the first thing that we want the campaign to do is to help women spot the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
“But cancer is something that affects many people, male and female. So we hope that the message of 'Don't get scared, get checked' is one that people want to pass on, especially through word of mouth."
Official government figures show that there were 1,024 cases of breast cancer in women in Greater Glasgow and Clyde in 2010 and five cases in men.
Launched earlier this year, the Detect Cancer Early campaign aims to increase the early detection of cancer by a quarter by 2015 and save 300 lives across Scotland.
Speaking about the creative process behind the advert Phil Evans, copywriter from The Leith Agency, said: “We always felt that showing real breasts, with real symptoms, would make for a powerful advert.
“And that's when we hit on the idea of cards being held up over the chest. We thought that if we could get a high-profile woman to go topless and hold them up so that it looked like they were her breasts, this would instantly grab the viewer's attention.
“Full-frontal naked breasts had never been seen in an advert before, but we thought if ever there was a time when this could be appropriate, it was now - for this campaign.
“There was something about Elaine that we thought women in Scotland would relate to. And when we found out she'd lost her own mum to breast cancer, it was never going to be anyone else.
“When I thought about what she should say while holding the cards, I felt it was important to reflect her personality and warm people to the information by making a joke at the start of the advert.
“That's where the ‘Three kids later ones’ line came in. It shows this is about real women with real breasts. This honesty set the tone for the whole advert. It is a straightforward, honest appeal to the women of Scotland.
“I'm absolutely over-the-moon with the reaction. As Elaine put it when she had a wee teary moment during filming, ‘If it prevents one death from breast cancer it was all worth it’.”
The average survival rate for cancer has doubled in the past 30 years, and half of all people diagnosed with the disease now survive for at least five years.
Between 1986 and 2010, the survival rate of those being diagnosed with cancer across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has increased by 17%.
Responding to the success of the campaign, Health Secretary Alex Neil says that the “upfront and honest” advert has made a bold step in tackling breast cancer survival rates head-on.
He said: “One in nine women in Scotland will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, highlighting the gravity of this disease and the importance of staging a public health campaign that directly addresses the awareness of symptoms.
“We needed to give women across Scotland the confidence to deal with breast cancer and to recognise the potential visual signs and symptoms of the disease.
“The creative route is a UK first by showing real pictures of women’s bare breasts with visible signs of breast cancer in a television advert.
“It has drawn widespread, positive responses across the nation that have helped to galvanise conversation around the topic of breast awareness.
“The Scottish Government is proud to have introduced this groundbreaking campaign which we believe will help pave the way to improve the health of generations of Scottish women to come.”
Following in the footsteps of Elaine C Smith, a group of celebrities have since joined together to make an online spin-off video and help reinforce the Detect Cancer Early campaign messages.
Featuring Kaye Adams, Tom Kitchin, Clare Grogan, Michelle McManus, Amanda Hamilton, Grant Stott, Phil Kay and Greg McHugh, the celebs are hopeful that the light-hearted approach, which has had over 10,000 views so far, will strike a chord with the public.
Kaye Adams said: “I think the tone of the advert is just right. The important thing in any media campaign is to make a connection and a lasting impression. A stern 'in one ear and out the other' message is no good to anyone.
“Scots respond to humour, they enjoy humour and remember it and if it can help them take on board an important message, then it is doing its job.
“I thought the original advert was inspiring from the off. It caught my attention immediately and drove me online to look at it again. Elaine is the perfect choice, she is known for her humour but also her intelligence and integrity.”
Source (with both videos): STV
John Barrowman
John and Carole Barrowman pen sequel to "Hollow Earth"
"Bone Quill," the sequel to "Hollow Earth," the fantasy/science-fiction novel for young adults written by John Barrowman and his sister, Carole Barrowman, will be published by Buster Books in 2013.
"Lots of twins have a special connection - being able to finish each other's sentences; sensing what the other is thinking; perhaps even knowing when the other is in trouble or in pain - but for 12-year-old twins, Matt and Emily Calder, the connection is beyond special," according to press notes for "Bone Quill." "Together, the twins have extraordinary powers - they are able to bring art to life, or enter paintings at will."
"Bone Quill" is now available for pre-order from Amazon UK.
The Barrowmans also authored "Torchwood: Exodus Code," which was released in the U.K. Sept. 13.
Source: Playbill
Look out behind you: It's our guide to Scotland's pantos
From the Daily Record:
Who needs the X Factor final when you can boo and hiss at a bunch of people in fancy dress?
It’s panto season again, with stars such as John Barrowman, Michelle McManus and Elaine C Smith taking to the boards and encouraging us all to sneer and shout at the villains and cheer on the men in tights. All in the name of family entertainment, of course.
Who needs the X Factor final when you can boo and hiss at a bunch of people in fancy dress – making cheesy jokes and poking fun at some of our classic fairytales?
According to last year’s audience figures, we can’t get enough of the fabulous farce that is panto. Ticket sales were up all over the country last year, with thousands of us heading down to our local theatres with our kids.
And it’s to be even better this year – as we look for something to lift us out of the doom and gloom of the recession.
Perth Theatre’s marketing and campaigns manager Hollie Wegner-Jaszkin said: “We’re delighted that, in this harsh economic climate, our bookings for pantomime continue to weather the storm.
“This year’s production of Mother Goose is proving to be no exception and we’re delighted with the strength of our sales at the moment.”
Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre manager, Iain Gordon, said: “The Pavilion panto, The Wizard Of Never Woz, is fun and full of audience participation.
“Although it’s brought up to today’s modern terms with special effects, it retains the great traditions of panto. It also has traditional songs and music for all ages! It’s fun for everybody from five to 95.”
Panto – which dates back to the Middle Ages – is the perfect way of putting a new slant on an old story.
And pantomime cross-dressing can find its roots in Shakespeare as plays were originally performed by men playing women.
Elaine C Smith, who plays the Wicked Queen in Snow White at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, which is already enjoying record ticket sales, said: “I am delighted to be coming back to the Granite City for the fourth year.
“The chance of playing this part was an offer I could not refuse.”
Jane McCarry, who plays Isa Drennan in the Scottish BBC sitcom Still Game, is confirmed to star in Cinderella at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, from December 18 to January 6.
A spokeswoman said: “Jane is a well known face of TV and theatre, so the audience of all ages will recognise her.”
Entertainer and actor John Barrowman and The Krankies ham it up as Jack and the Trots in Jack And The Beanstalk at the SECC, December 15 to January 6, in Glasgow.
John said: “I’m so pleased to be back at the SECC this Christmas. With amazing new 3D sequences, this show will be Glasgow’s biggest panto yet.”
Wherever you go for all that booing and hissing, there’s definitely something for all of us this panto season.
Singing Kettle – Fairytale Christmas – Various venues November 15 to January 5
www.singingkettle.com
Mother Goose
Eden Court Theatre, Bishop’s Road, Inverness IV3 5SA
December 4 to January 6
www.eden-court.co.uk
Sleeping Beauty
Peterhead Community Theatre, Balmoor Terrace, Peterhead AB42 1EP
December 8-15
www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Snow White
His Majesty’s Theatre, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen AB25 1GL
December 1 to January 6
www.hmtaberdeen.com
Jack And The Beanstalk
Gardyne Theatre, Gardyne Road, Dundee DD5 1NY
December 4-9
www.gardynetheatre.org.uk
Mother Goose
Perth Theatre, High Street, Perth PH1 5UW
December 7 to January 5
www.horsecross.co.uk
Cinderella
Macrobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling FK9 4LA
November 28 to December 31
www.macrobert.org
Hansel & Gretel
Carnegie Hall, East Port, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7JA
November 30 to December 24
www.onfife.com
Cinderella
Alhambra Theatre, Canmore Street, Dunfermline
KY12 7NX
December 18 to January 6
www.alhambradunfermline.com
Mother Goose
King’s Theatre, Leven Street, Edinburgh EH3 9LQ
December 1 to January 20
www.edtheatres.com/panto
The Wizard Of Never Woz
The Pavilion Theatre, Renfield Street, Glasgow
G2 3AX
November 28 to January 19
www.paviliontheatre.co.uk
Jack And The Beanstalk
Clyde Auditorium, SECC, Glasgow G3 8YW
December 15 to Jaunary 6
www.secc.co.uk
Aladdin
Motherwell Theatre, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB
November 19 to January 5
www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/entertainment
Cinderella
Palace Theatre, Green
Street, Kilmarnock KA1 3BN
November 24 to December 30
www.visiteastayrshire.com
Cinderella
Ayr Gaiety, Carrick Street, Ayr KA7 1NU
December 11 to January 6
www.thegaiety.co.uk
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs
DG One, Hood’s Loaning, Dumfries DG1 2HT
December 15-31
www.dgone.co.uk
Source (including photo): Daily Record
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Elaine C Smith: 'Mum and Me' radio series
Mum and Me - radio series hosted by Elaine C Smith
1/6 How would you react if your 16 year old daughter told you she was pregnant? In this new BBC Radio Scotland series, Mum and Me, Elaine C Smith hears some heart felt stories about the unique relationship between a mother and her child. This programme looks at the issues that surround being a teen mum. Elaine C Smith talks to Lois Beaumont as she reflects back on her teenage pregnancy and how it changed her life and the relationship with her own mother.
First broadcast BBC Radio Scotland, 2:05PM Thu, 25 Oct 2012
Available until 1:32PM Thu, 1 Nov 2012
Duration 30 minutes
Listen to the programme at BBC
Scottish BAFTA nominations
Radio presenter Edith Bowman will host this next month's Scottish BAFTAs ceremony, with Ken Loach acclaimed film The Angels' Share leading the way in the nominations.
The film, which saw Loach receive the Jury Prize at the Cannes festival earlier this year, is up for four awards. The winners will be announced in Glasgow on Sunday November 18.
The Angels' Share is up for best feature film, with Paul Laverty nominated for best writer. Meanwhile Paul Brannigan – who hosted Born To Lose? for the STV Appeal – and Siobhan Reilly are up for best actor and actress respectively.
Meanwhile Antiques Road Trip, which is made by STV Productions, is nominated in the features/factual entertainment category.
Fife-born Bowman said: "The event is a brilliant showcase of the moving image industries and highlights the wealth of talent here in Scotland.
"Over the past year Scotland has cemented its reputation as a leading player in film, TV and game production. So much fantastic work has been produced and I'm very excited to see who wins from the list of nominees."
Kevin Bridges's show What's The Story? is among those nominated for best comedy/entertainment programme, while the funny man is also up for best writer for the series.
There may be some marital strife as Gregor Fisher and Elaine C Smith go head to head in the best television actor/actress category. They’re nominated for their husband/wife roles in Rab C Nesbitt.
Jude MacLaverty, director of Bafta in Scotland, said: "The British Academy Scotland Awards is all about rewarding excellence in the industry, and this year's nominations reflect the sheer breadth of talent, creativity, and originality here in Scotland."
Source: STV
The acting nominees are...
ACTOR/ACTRESS FILM
- Paul Brannigan: The Angels’ Share
- James Cosmo: Citadel
- Siobhan Reilly: The Angels’ Share
- Iain De Caestecker: Young James Herriot
- Gregor Fisher: Rab C Nesbitt
- Elaine C Smith: Rab C Nesbitt
Also reported (with full nominations list) by Scotsman BBC Scotland and Daily Record
Photo of Edith Bowman: Scotsman
Sunday, 21 October 2012
Elaine C Smith: panto in Aberdeen
Panto stars reveal surprise guest for Aberdeen show
Robbie Shepherd to star alongside Elaine C Smith at HMT
By Scott Begbie showbiz editor
Published: 16/10/2012
A touch of Christmas magic arrived in Aberdeen today with the official launch of this year’s His Majesty’s pantomime, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.Source: Evening Express
Stars Elaine C Smith and Alan McHugh surprised shoppers at Bon Accord Shopping Centre in Aberdeen by handing out apples and unveiling a special guest star for this year’s show – North-east icon Robbie Shepherd.
While this will be his first appearance in Aberdeen’s HMT panto, the Doric broadcaster and writer has been namechecked every year ... usually on the receiving end of a joke.
Also reported (with video) by STV and BBC Scotland and by Daily Record
Sunday, 14 October 2012
Elaine C Smith: 'Desperately Seeking SuBo' documentary
Desperately Seeking SuBo documentary to air on STV
STV viewers are in for a treat when one hour documentary
Desperately Seeking SuBo hits our television screens.
The programme follows the journey of Elaine C. Smith as she
co-writes and rehearses the stage show I Dreamed A Dream, about Susan Boyle’s
life so far.
From fascinating stories about the moment Elaine and Susan
met, to the Britain’s Got Talent star’s reaction to the first time she saw the
show; Desperately Seeking SuBo is a treat for both Susan Boyle and Elaine fans
alike.
Watch as Elaine goes in search of a hit and her star. Will
she find either of them?
This exclusive behind the scenes look at the new musical
about the extraordinary life of Scottish singer Susan Boyle will air on Tuesday
October 9 at 8pm.
After the show, there will be more about the musical, Susan
and Elaine at stv.tv/susanboyle. For those of you outwith the UK who won’t be
able to watch the show go out, log on to stv.tv/susanboyle from 9pm (GMT) on
Tuesday October 9 to watch exclusive clips from Desperately Seeking SuBo.
Source (including video): STV
Source (including video): STV
Monday, 8 October 2012
Elaine C Smith: charity and campaign supporter
TV and stage star backs Zumba rumba in memory of a legend
More than 250 people took part in a four-hour charity Zumbathon recently in honour of an inspirational woman from Bishopbriggs – including her good friend Elaine C Smith.The event was organised in memory of Janette de Haan, who was well-known in the community as a conscientious social worker and for her work to eradicate domestic violence and child abuse across the country.
She devoted 22 years of service to the Women’s Support Project in Glasgow — an organisation which strives to protect women and children from violence, exploitation and oppression.
Janette, from Bishopbriggs, was also a founding member of the Scottish Government’s national group on Violence Against Women and was instrumental in establishing Scotland’s first domestic abuse court.
Sadly, in June of this year, Janette died following a prolonged battle with cancer.
During her illness she attended the occasional Zumba class, where she made an immediate impact on instructor Nicole Tulloch.
Nicole, from Springburn, said: “Janette was an inspirational woman and I decided to do something in her honour.
“To a lot of people in our classes, Zumba is more than just an exercise class, it has brought so many together.
“For Janette, the class gave her a bit of respite as she was also a full-time carer for her mum.
“But she never complained - she was always happy and smiling. She was more than just a classmate - she was a friend. The Zumbathon was in her honour, with the aim of raising awareness of these charities.”
The event, which was was held at the Milngavie and Bearsden Sports Centre, proved to be an overwhelming success, raising a fantasttic £5,300. All proceeds will be split between the Beatson Oncology Centre and the Women’s Support Project.
Nicole, a make-up artist for a number of TV projects, was able to enlist a number of famous faces to attend the Zumbathon.
Sports presenter Alison Walker, Clyde 1 DJ Romeo, Mrs Brown’s Boys actor Gary Hollywood and Leah Macrae from Gary: Tank Commander all turned out to show their support.
However, top of the bill was Elaine C Smith, a long-time friend of Janette’s, who auctioned off her own Zumba routine to raise additional funds.
Source: Kirkintilloch Herald
Hats off to Loch Lomond legend Tom Weir
For generations of viewers, he was an engaging and informed companion, yomping across Scotland’s great wildernesses in his trademark woolly bunnet to show the nation at large the beauty and fragility on their doorstep.
Now, six years after his death, plans are being made to commemorate the life and work of Tom Weir, one of the country’s most passionate conservationists, with a statue on the banks of his beloved Loch Lomond.
The tribute to the acclaimed climber, writer, and broadcaster behind the much-loved STV series Weir’s Way, will be established in time for the centenary of his birth in late 2014, and has been blessed by his widow, Rhona, who said Weir was “very fond” of the iconic destination.She met sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn, who has made his name with bronze casts of public figures, to discuss ideas for the memorial.
Campaigners say it will cost around £20,000 to create the statue and may hold a fund-raising walk in which participants wear the kind of bunnets made famous by Weir.
The moves follow an online campaign by hundreds of Weir’s devoted fans who say he did more than anyone to pave the way for the creation of Scotland’s inaugural national park, having spent years battling for safeguards of Loch Lomond’s natural splendour.
The initiative has been supported by a raft of well-known Scots including Elaine C Smith, Stuart Cosgrove, Cameron McNeish, and Jackie Baillie, who are among more than 600 people to join the campaign group calling for the memorial to be put in place.
Read more at The Scotsman
Sunday, 9 September 2012
Elaine C Smith: doing her bit for Breast Cancer Awareness and STV Appeal
- Breast Cancer Awareness
The 54-year-old star, who lost her mum Stella to breast cancer in 2005, makes no apologies for the stark content of the TV commercials.
Actress Elaine C Smith was moved to tears by her latest role – fronting a hard-hitting breast cancer awareness campaign. Elaine stars in groundbreaking television adverts which are the first in the UK to show pictures of real women’s breasts with visible signs of cancer.
And the 54-year-old star, who lost her mum Stella to breast cancer in 2005, makes no apologies for their stark content.
She said yesterday: “It did take a lot out of me and after filming, I burst into tears, knowing that if my mum had seen it, she might still be here today. “I think the advert is shocking and some people won’t like it. But, for me, doing it was a no-brainer.”
The adverts, which will be shown after the 9pm watershed, feature Elaine, apparently naked, holding placards in front of her body.
Each placard shows a different symptom of breast cancer to reinforce the campaign’s message that lumps are not the only sign that something could be wrong. The adverts are part of a £30million Scottish Government initiative which aims to increase the number of cases of cancer detected early by 25 per cent.
Former Rab C Nesbitt star Elaine, who previously stripped off for the stage play Calendar Girls, says the hard-hitting nature of the ads drives the vital message home.
She said: “For some, the campaign might be shocking but as far as I’m concerned, if this saves one life, it is absolutely worth it.
“For too many years, women have been confused and scared about what to look for.
“This campaign should help inform people about some of the signs related to breast cancer and encourage them to seek help.
“I am proud that this campaign will help to educate and inform women and men because increased awareness will save lives.”
She added: “Having lost my own mum to breast cancer, I know that if she had seen this campaign, she would have known what she was looking for and perhaps visited the doctor and been checked much earlier.”
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday that the adverts take a “bold approach which has not been used before”.
She added: “Women can often be confused about what to look for and it is important that we get the message across that it’s not just lumps that can be a sign of breast cancer.
“I hope that this drive will get people talking about breast cancer and encourage people to become more aware of the signs and symptoms.
“The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chance it can be treated successfully and that is why it is so important that women know how to spot the signs of breast cancer early on.”
Sturgeon went on: “More lives can be saved in Scotland through earlier detection, as the cancer can be treated.”
The launch of the campaign follows an announcement this week that an additional £12million is being invested in upgrading breast screening equipment across Scotland.
The money will be invested in replacing old-fashioned analogue machines with digital units over the next three years.
Audrey Birt, chairwoman of the Scottish Cancer Coalition and Scotland director of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, is supporting the project. She said: “We very much welcome this initiative. Detecting breast cancer early improves the chances of successful treatment so it’s important to be breast aware.
“This simply means knowing what your breasts look and feel like normally, being on the lookout for any unusual changes and getting them checked out by your doctor.
“Lumps are vital to look out for but there are other important signs such as changes to size, shape, texture and discharge.”
Source: Scottish Daily Record
Also reported by BuzzFeed and (with video) The Scotsman and many more
- STV Appeal: Elaine C Smith joins fight against poverty
But during her emotional day in the editor’s chair, Elaine explained that the whole country has to roll up its sleeves to tackle the problem of childhood poverty.
Wiping back tears after watching The Big Launch, she said: “We can’t just go ‘they can do it’. All too often, in Scotland, we’ve suffered from that, saying ‘oh well, social workers can do it’.
“Child poverty is unbelievable in this day and age that it’s going on. I have two daughters and I’d hate the thought of them having to live their lives like some of these kids do.”
She urged everyone to get behind the STV Appeal, particularly as the Scottish Government has agreed to match the money raised from the public.
Elaine added: “We can all get depressed, but this [The STV Appeal] is about hope and care.”
Source (with video) STV
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Elaine C Smith: lending support for Scottish charities
Elaine C Smith supports St Andrew's Hospice
Newarthill actress Elaine C Smith popped into St Andrew’s Hospice for a sneak peak at the soon to open Little Doves Shop.
The Little Doves Shop will open in the next few weeks offering a range of hospice branded products and unusual items.
Elaine, who is currently touring in the Susan Boyle musical I Dreamed a Dream, said: “There is something for everyone, if you are looking for something extra special you really must come and see what’s on offer.
“I can’t believe that it’s only just August and I already have lots of ideas for my Christmas gifts.
“There’s Little Dove branded umbrella’s for the girls, pens for the men, tops and t-shirts. I may even buy myself one of the cook packs that’s also on sale.
“I’ll have my apron, recipe book, napkins and place settings, everything I need to have friends round for dinner, I may even ask them to make a donation for dinner to help raise much needed funds for the hospice.”
The Little Doves Shop will be open Monday to Saturday from 10am-4pm.
Shops area manager Irene Viola said: “We hope that lots of customers new and old will take this opportunity to visit.”
During her visit Elaine agreed to participate in an Audience with Elaine C Smith next spring to raise funds for the hospice.To register your interest for the event or to find out about making a donation call 01236 766951.
Source: Bellshill Speaker
Also reported by Evening Times
Elaine C Smith will be a guest editor for STV Appeal week
Stars of stage, screen and sporting arenas are joining STV's online team as guest editors to help raise awareness of the STV Appeal 2012 this week.
Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger leads the field on Tuesday, September 4, when she takes over the reins for the day. What will she have to say about stv.tv's sporting coverage and does she secretly watch The X Factor?
Katherine will be followed on Wednesday by Elaine C.Smith, star of stage and screen, whose stage show I Dreamed a Dream, about the life of Susan Boyle, is coming to Scotland later this month. Will she be putting the finishing touches to stv.tv's showbiz coverage or does she secretly want to put STV heavyweights such as Bernard Ponsonby or John MacKay on the spot?
Read more at STV
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